Dell complaints

[smell_dell]

I fix Dell laptops on the side - in addition to my regular desktop PC service.

I have a customer with a Dell D600 and I've tried three power adapters (PA-12) and the thing will not power on.

Here's what happens:

When I plug the adapter to the unit, the green light on the adapter turns OFF, and I see no signs of power activity. The only thing, I have not tried is a fresh battery from another D600 to see if the switch was the problem. I've tried it several times with three different power adapters and same result. But again, it was pretty odd to see the green LED on the power adapter turn off when I plug in the tail end of the cable to the power plug of the laptop.

I'm wondering if this might be a simple FRU board (power) that I could swap out. I'm hoping it it not a mobo problem that would require soldering on the component level.

Basically, I'm assuming the problem could be a short on the mobo circuit or a problem with the power plug, or maybe both.

Anyways, before I tell the customer to source a new mobo, I just want to get someone's opinion here.

[Rocke_T_Sinetist]

Take the battery out. Battery test lamps light? Battery is OK. No? Could be defective or just run down.

Leave the battery out, connect the adapter. Adapter light still go out? Motherboard is bad. There is no 'power board', all components are on the MB. No soldering, just a lot of screws. While you've got it apart, blow the dust out of the cooling air path and be double-damned-sure you get the heatsink back on right.

Adapter light stay on with battery removed, and system operate? Battery is defective. System still doesn't operate? Motherboard.
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Rocke T Sinetist
as in, 'it doesn't take a...'

[FallenAngel]

Sounds to me like the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) may be on the blink, OR it could be a case where the AC jack onboard is damaged and needs to be replaced or re-soldered.

[sickofdell]

99.9% of the time when the green light goes out on the adaptor and it happens on multiple adaptors, the motherboard needs to be replaced.

If you are really looking for t/s steps, you can take out battery and ac adaptor, press and hold power button for 20 seconds to reset the computer, then do a test on the battery as mentioned above, if that shows a charge or at least no blinking led's, you should be fine on battery. Try ac adaptor by itself, no battery. If still nothing, it's motherboard. good luck
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Have you seen my dell laptop?

http://www.tgdaily.com/picturegalleries/gallery-20060731-1.html

(ok, so it's not mine, but it's freakin cool)